I don’t know if “The Reclaimers” is a proof of concept short film or not, but if director Jason Sheedy is planning a bigger feature, count me in. “The Reclaimers” is a stellar horror scifi hybrid that watches like a mix of “I Am Legend” and “Bird Box.” It’s an interesting concept in a well worn concept that works very well thanks to the single performance by star Erin Ownbey. After her grandparents are killed by invisible creatures, a determined young woman seeks to avenge them with the help of her canine companion – the only one who can see the mysterious invaders.
As Reagen, Ownbey is memorable playing a protagonist filled with a complex and interesting back story that allows us to get to know her as someone who isn’t quite as heroic as we want to believe. She’s as flawed and filled with regret from a past life that has long died. She spends a lot of her days wallowing in guilt and self destruction and yet she can’t quite seem to stop fighting for her life, no matter what crosses her path. Jason Sheedy posits a wonderful monster for this world, one that’s cunning, fast, relentless and also invisible.
This is obviously for the sake of the budget, but Sheedy implements is well allowing for the purposes of dogs, the only apparent animals that can see the monsters that have laid waste to humanity. We do get one glimpse at them and they’re absolutely formidable foes that have a keen hunting ability, allowing for only a few people to have survived. And their survival is purely by chance and or luck. Sheedy is able to compose this small narrative well with some excellent direction, interesting action and great work with the film’s trusty dog Boone. The premise’s whole emotional weight relies on Boone, and director Sheedy is able to pounce on that vulnerability making him a consistently lovable and inadvertent hero.
“The Reclaimers” is teeming with huge potential for a feature, as I’d love to know more about the circumstances as well as these monsters that have seemingly destroyed civilization. As is, “The Reclaimers” is a top notch genre short with talent from top to bottom.
“The Reclaimers” is now making its rounds in the festival circuit.